Beloved Athens vegetarian restaurant to close permanently next month after 36 years

ATHENS, Ga. — A beloved staple of the Athens restaurant scene announced Thursday that it will permanently close after 36 years.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Grit specializes in vegan and vegetarian food, and occupies a historic building on Prince Avenue that was once owned by R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. The restaurant was founded in 1986 and published a cookbook in 2001. In 2020, the Grit was one of the first Athens restaurants to convert a side street into a parklet where guests could dine during the pandemic.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Road rage shooting sends driver, passenger to hospital, Atlanta police say
• Man accused of repeatedly strutting naked, relieving himself from midtown high-rise balcony arrested
• Fulton County school bus crashes into ditch near Ga. 400 in Sandy Springs

“Unfortunately, things have changed due to the pandemic and we’ve had to reevaluate our business goals,” owners wrote on Facebook. “So, it is with heavy hearts, but with a hopeful eye on the future, that we announce that we are closing our doors at the end of evening service on Friday October 7th 2022.”

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

General Manager Jay Totty told the Athens Banner-Herald that the Grit’s staff was notified before the announcement was made.

Popular Buckhead restaurant catches fire early Tuesday morning Firefighters say the brick walls on the outside of Tin Lizzy's saved it from being destroyed.

©2022 Cox Media Group